TEHRAN — This week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei called on the country’s military leaders to expand the country’s naval capabilities, the Iranian media reported. In a meeting with senior Navy commanders in Tehran, Khamenei said the Navy should boost its assets and capabilities both in terms of military gear and combat power.

He praised the latest progress of the Navy but stressed that Navy officials should accelerate the development of its assets. The supreme leader particularly emphasized the need to expand the Navy’s operations in “critical regions” such as the coast of Makran and the Sea of Oman, and urged the Navy to maintain presence in international waters.

In an interview with the state TV on Monday, the new commander of the Iranian Navy claimed Israel is deeply afraid of the Iranian Navy.

“We don’t view the Zionist regime’s navy as a notable naval power and believe that it is not capable of confronting us,” Rear Admiral Khanzadi said.